Sean’s late goal a boost for Binos
Dickson strike stuns promotion-chasing Elgin
Stirling Albion ...... 1 Elgin City .............. 0 Sean Dickson scored a dramatic 93rd-minute winner as Stirling secured another vital victory to climb to sixth place in Ladbrokes League 2.
Dave Mackay’s men are now 11 points clear of bottom club Cowdenbeath – who they face at Central Park on Saturday – and head for Fife on a four-match unbeaten streak.
This was a huge result for Albion to shut out an Elgin side who have scored more SPFL goals than anyone except Celtic.
Jim Weir’s men were hampered by the absence of top scorer Shane Sutherland and there wasn’t much between the teams, but the Borough Briggs boss felt Stirling wanted it more.
The Binos’ hard work paid off three minutes into added time when Dickson’s desire saw him win the ball some 20 yards out and he fired in a low, left-foot shoot that appeared to take a slight deflection before going in off the post.
It was the former Stenhousemuir midfielder’s sixth goal of the campaign and the last four of them have come after the 88th minute – he certainly loves a late goal.
A few weeks ago you would have given Stirling no chance of keeping back-to- back clean sheets but they were up for this game from the start on a bitterly cold night at Forthbank.
Albion worked hard, were organised and limited the visitors to few clear-cut opportunities.
Mackay’s team selection was a surprise. He gave a debut to U20 midfielder Connor McMullan and ex-Dundee right-back Andy Black, who has rarely featured, was also deployed in the centre. It worked well. Ross Forsyth returned after injury and illness at left-back.
There was a good tempo to this contest throughout, despite a lack of real goalmouth incident.
Elgin offered little in the first half and Craig Gunn’s 20-yarder was easily saved by Chris Smith.
Stirling created some promising openings, which they didn’t make the most of, but were unlucky not to go ahead as the interval approached.
Full-back Liam Caddis picked out Ross Kavanagh with a superb long ball and Saturday’s matchwinner did well to get there before a defender but on-loan Inverness keeper Cammy Mackay was out quickly to make a smart save.
Elgin’s response at the start of the second half suggested they might have had Weir’s words ringing in their ears and within 60 seconds they almost scored.
Chris Dodd’s cross from the left was met by Mark Nicolson, whose header bounced off the post before being cleared.
Stirling responded and top scorer Blair Henderson had a hooked effort headed off the line after good work by Connor McLaren, who was then forced off with a knock.
Elgin’s Darryl McHardy might have done better than nod over from a corner with three minutes left before Caddis wasn’t too far away at the other end from 25 yards.
The game was almost up when Dickson struck to sink an Elgin side who look certain to finish in the play-offs at least and make it a 1-0 Forthbank double for Stirling in the space of four days.